Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you— New Living Translation Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. English Standard Version Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Berean Standard Bible Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. King James Bible Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: New King James Version Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. New American Standard Bible Also, do not take seriously all the words which are spoken, so that you do not hear your servant cursing you, NASB 1995 Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. NASB 1977 Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Legacy Standard Bible Also, do not give your heart to all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your slave cursing you. Amplified Bible Also, do not take seriously everything that is said, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you, Christian Standard Bible Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, American Standard Version Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; Contemporary English Version Don't listen to everything that everyone says, or you might hear your servant cursing you. English Revised Version Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: GOD'S WORD® Translation Don't take everything that people say to heart, or you may hear your own servant cursing you. Good News Translation Don't pay attention to everything people say--you may hear your servant insulting you, International Standard Version Don't listen to everything that is spoken— you may hear your servant cursing you, Majority Standard Bible Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. NET Bible Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you. New Heart English Bible Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you; Webster's Bible Translation Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: World English Bible Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAlso to all the words that they speak do not give your heart, that you do not hear your servant reviling you. Young's Literal Translation Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee. Smith's Literal Translation Also to all the words that shall be spoken thou shalt not give thy heart, that thou shalt not hear thy servant cursing thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Do not give your heart to every word that is spoken; you may hear your servant cursing you, New Revised Standard Version Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAlso take no heed of all words that are spoken by the wicked; neither listen to your servant when he curses you; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And also do not give your heart to all statements that the wicked will utter; do not listen to your servant who insults you OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; Brenton Septuagint Translation Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Limits of Human Wisdom…20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.… Cross References Proverbs 19:11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Proverbs 17:9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends. Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. / Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions. Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” ... Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ... Treasury of Scripture Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you: take no heed 2 Samuel 19:19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. unto 2 Samuel 16:10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? Isaiah 29:21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; … Jump to Previous Attention Curse Curses Cursing Ear Fear Hear Hearing Heart Heed Pay Reviling Seriously Servant Speak Word WordsJump to Next Attention Curse Curses Cursing Ear Fear Hear Hearing Heart Heed Pay Reviling Seriously Servant Speak Word WordsEcclesiastes 7 1. remedies against vanity are, a good name2. mortification 7. patience 11. wisdom 23. The difficulty of wisdom Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken This phrase advises discernment in listening, emphasizing the importance of not taking every comment to heart. In biblical context, this reflects the wisdom literature's focus on understanding human nature and the folly of overreacting to words. Proverbs 19:11 echoes this sentiment, highlighting the virtue of patience and overlooking offenses. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern cultures, words held significant power, but the wise were encouraged to weigh them carefully. This advice aligns with the broader biblical theme of guarding one's heart and mind, as seen in Philippians 4:7. or you may hear your servant cursing you Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom. His reflections in Ecclesiastes offer insights into human nature and the pursuit of meaning. 2. Servant Represents those who are under the authority of another, highlighting the dynamics of relationships and communication within a hierarchical structure. 3. Israel The setting for Solomon's writings, providing a cultural and historical backdrop that influences the text's themes and teachings. Teaching Points Guarding the HeartWe are encouraged to protect our hearts from unnecessary hurt by not dwelling on every negative word spoken about us. Understanding Human Nature Recognize that everyone, including ourselves, can speak carelessly at times. This understanding fosters patience and forgiveness. Wisdom in Relationships In relationships, especially those involving authority, it is wise to overlook minor offenses to maintain peace and harmony. Self-Reflection Consider how often we might speak carelessly about others and strive to improve our own speech. Focus on the Positive By not fixating on negative words, we can focus on constructive and uplifting communication.Verse 21. - Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; literally, give not thy heart, as Ecclesiastes 1:13, etc. Here is another matter in which wisdom will lead to right conduct. You will not pay serious attention to evil reports either about yourself or others, nor regulate your views and actions according to such distortions of the truth. To be always hankering to know what people say of us is to set up a false standard, which will assuredly lead us astray; and, at the same time, we shall expose ourselves to the keen-eat mortification when we find, as we probably shall find, that they do not take us at our own valuation, but have thoroughly marked our weaknesses, and are ready enough to censure them. We have an instance of patience under unmerited reproof in the case of David when cursed by Shimei (2 Samuel 16:11), as he, or one like minded, says (Psalm 38:13), "I, as a deaf man, hear not; and I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs." Corn. a Lapide comments in words to which no translation would do justice, "Verbaenim non aunt verbera; aerem feriunt non hominem, nisi qui its attendit mordetur, sauciatur." Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee. The servant is introduced as an example of a gossip or calumniator, because he, if any one, would be acquainted with his master's faults, and be most likely to disseminate his knowledge, and blame from such a quarter would be most intolerable. Commentators appositely quote Bacon's remarks on this passage in his 'Advancement of Learning,' 8:2, where he notes the prudence of Pompey, who burned all the papers of Sertorius reread, containing, as they did, information which would fatally have compromised many leading men in Rome. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not pay תִּתֵּ֖ן (tit·tên) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set attention לִבֶּ֑ךָ (lib·be·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre to every לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every word הַדְּבָרִים֙ (had·də·ḇā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause that is spoken, יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue or אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you may hear תִשְׁמַ֥ע (ṯiš·ma‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently your servant עַבְדְּךָ֖ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant cursing you. מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃ (mə·qal·le·ḵā) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling Links Ecclesiastes 7:21 NIVEcclesiastes 7:21 NLT Ecclesiastes 7:21 ESV Ecclesiastes 7:21 NASB Ecclesiastes 7:21 KJV Ecclesiastes 7:21 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 7:21 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 7:21 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 7:21 French Bible Ecclesiastes 7:21 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:21 Also don't take heed to all words (Ecclesiast. 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